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7 ShogtS-Shdet 1 v 7 YW 3 BY 2 2 AMAITOI JEYS V, v V 44 F CONTI RUDDER Original Filed Jan. 24. 1920 Dec. 28 I926.

Dec. 28. 1926. Re. 16,508

I F. CONTI V RUDDER Original Fi'led Jan. 24. 1920 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 .1 IIII: '1 'L II 121 1:: 2': 11 12221.-

. v v dZIZQI-LEWOR I A; ATTORNEY 5 F. CONT] RUDDER Original Filed Jan. 24. 1920 Sheets-Sheet s Re, 16,508 F. CONTI HUDDER Original Filed Jan. 24. 1920 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 wry-0R 1. ATTORNEYfi' Dec. 28 1926.

F. CONTI RUDDER Original Filed Jan. 24. 1920 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Dec. 28, 1926.'

. Re. ,5 F. CONTI aunm-m Original Filed Jan. 24. 1920 7 Sheets-Sheet a ATI'ORNEYY R 16,508 F CONTI RUDDER Original Filed Jan. 24. 1926 'r Shets-Sheet 'r 1 BY g ATTORNEY Deg. 28 1926.

Reissued Dec. 28, 1926.

' ATES nunnnn.

Originaljflo. 1,382,170, dated October 3, 1919.

This invention relates to ship controlling means and more particularly to an improved rudder, the means for operating the same and the method of steering a water-borne ship thereby.

Heretofore, rudder mechanism has been constructed inwhich the rudder has been directly and positively operated by power either; manual or otherwise aboard ship,

' necessitating in large ships either a powerful operating mechanism or reducing gears requiring considerable motion of the helm to make asli'ght variation in the course.

The'present inyention avoids this by the provision of means-and the arrangement of parts so that the energy of the currents, preferably those. which" come directly from the propeller of the ship, is used to move the rudder in the desired direction. To do this by a simple and efficient structure, which is another feature of this invention, I mount the rudder so that it can turn'freely independentofany connection with the helm and mount on the rudder a small controlling rudder which is connected to be turned by the o eration of the helm by suitable connection therewith. This small rudder acts on the larger ship rudder in a manner similar to the. action. of an ordinary rudder on a ship. That is tosay the ositio of the controllingrudder in'the currents causes it to turn? the ship rudder to the desired position and to hold it there as long-as desired. This is done with very little energy on the part of the hehnsinan who. can directly and manually operate the small controlling rudder. The controlling or auxiliary rudder is so geared to the main rudderthat, as the latter follows up the movement of the former, the two move into alignment at the desired angle to the ships. course.

In the accompanying drawings which show by Way of example some physical enibodiments of my invention, Fig. 1, is a side view of the stern portion of a ship showing myinvention as applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a'view similar to Fig. 1 showing the position of the parts when the ship is going astern: Figs. 3 to 6 are diagrammatic views s r a 1. 9 64 showing the various positions of the controlling rudderduring a steering operation, the ship going ahead;' Figs. 7 to L0 ar e diagrammatic views showing the various positions of'the controlling rudder assumed during the reversing of the ships direction; from ahead to astern Figs. 1]. to"1 3 show the various positions assumed by the controlling rudder during steering operations while the ship is going astern ;"F-igs. 14- to 18'show the various positions of the controlling rudder assumed during. a reversing of the 's'hips direction from astern to ahead; Fig. 10 shows the. action of the rudders when the ships rudder is acted on by a rough sea; Fig. 20 shows the ships rudder returned to normal position from that shown in Fig. 19 by the balancing operation of the controlrudder; Figs. 21, 22 and 23 are diagrammatic views of a modification in which H controlling rudder is connected'to the ships rudder by mechanical connections.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the ships rudder A is provided as usual but instead of being directly connected with the helm of the ship it is freely mounted in itssupport so that it can swin to and fro without interference, having or this purpose a pivot pin p at its lower end engaging an extension of the keel. The center rod or shaft 1 of the rudder A'is provided at the side opposite the rudder blade, with a pair of arms 3 having a suitable space between them for the reception of the controlling rudder. a which is. fulcrumed cl and f on said arms 3. The controlling rudder is small in comparison to the ships rudder A and is only of suchsize as will be necessary in order that the controlling rudder may con trol the rudder A. The fulcrums cl and f of'the controlling rudder a are so located with respect to the rudder blade 4: thereof that a greater area is presented on one side than on the other in the same manner as ordinary rudders; 4'

The controlling rudder a has its blade 4 controlled by the" steering mechanism of the ship to whicl i it is connected by suitable means. Means for this purpose are shown.

- shaft in position in Fig. 1 in which the fulcrums (Z and f of the rudder a are provided at their ends with bevel gears 5, meshing with bevel gears 6 secured to shafts 7 mounted in the arms 3 of the ships rudder A. These shafts 7 at their other ends have secured thereto bevel gears 8 meshing with bevel gears 9 fixed to a controlling shaft 10 mounted in the shaft 1 of the rudder A. The arrangement is such that the rudder a is turned from above and below by the rotation of the shaft 10. The shaft 10 in turn has a bevel gear T meshing with another bevel gear connected by any suitable means to the helm of the ship. Therefore when the shaft 10 is rotated the rudder a is given a rotating movement to control the rudder A as will be presently described. The shaft 10 extending between the shaft 1 of the rudder A and the bottom of the ship serves to hold the upper end of the rudder in proper position collars S being provided for fixing the rudder and against accidental displacement.

WVhen the ship is going ahead the controlling rudder is located between the stern of the ship and the rudder A as shown in Fig. 1 but when the ship is going astern the rudder A is located between the ship and the controlling rudder, as shown in Fig. 2.

The positions assumed by the rudders in steering the ship to port are shown in Figs. 3 to 6. The first operation is to move the controlling rudder to port the proper number of degrees, say as shown in Fig. 3. This will cause the water impinging on its port face to tend to rotate the rudder A about its axis, which it does. The geared relation betweenthe two rudders is such that when the main rudder A has swung through 30 it will again in alignment with the auxiliary rudder as shown in Fig. --l. As the rudder A moves to port the conlrolling rudder is further manipulated if a. further turn is necessary, until the proper turn to port is made. \Vhen the turn has been made and it is desired to proceed on the new course, the controlling rudder is rotated to starboard causing the currents to impinge on its starboard face and thus rotate the rudder A to starboard as shown in Fig. 5 finally bringing it back to its original position as shown in Fig. 6. Of course. in the cases above described the ship is presumed to be going ahead.

When the ship reverses its engines and moves astern the rudder will. unless in eX- act alignment with the course, aiuiomatically turn through 180 and the steering proceed precisely as though the ship were going ahead, the auxiliary rudder following a planetary movement relative to the main rudder during this reversal. Inv order to hasten and control this reversing movement,

I may operate the reversing rudder as shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10. In Fig. 7 the con- Fig. 9, whereupon the currents striking against the rudder a complete the rotation of the rudder A when it occupies the position shown in Fig. 10. The action. of the rudders to steer when going astern is shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13. In Fig. 11 the controlling rudder is shown as swung to starboard, while in Fig. 12 the rudder A has been moved to starboard by the action of the current on the controlling rudder. Fig. 13 shows the position of the controlling rudder when it is desired to bring the ships rudder back to aline with the ships keel.

Figs. 14.- to 18 show the action of the rudders when the direction of the ship is again reversed. Since the actlon 1s substantlally the same as that shown and described in connection with Figs. 7 to 10, it will not he described.

iVhen the ship encounters a heavy sea the rudder arrangement of the present invention is self balancing and protects the helm mechanisn'i and the other parts of the ship from the sudden blows of a wave against the rudder A. The action of the parts under these conditions is shown in Figs. 19 and 20. in Fig. 19 the wave has struck against the rudder A in the direction of the arrow shown and has caused the rudder to be swung to port. The controlling rudder has not, however, been moved out of alignment with the keel of the ship. Therefore, when the force of the wave subsides the rudder A will be returned to alignment with the keel. by the currents from the propeller to the normal position again, shown in Fig. 20. This return movement would also take place even though the initial position of the rudders were not one of alignment with the keel. The arrangement is such that the rudders when struck by a wave automatically tend to return. to their position when struck.

In some cases it may be desirable to cause the controlling rudder to have counter ef fect rather than to be merely passive in a. rough sea, and for this purpose there are provided in one embodiment of my invention. shown in Figs. 21, 22, and 23, mechanical connections between the controlling rudder and the ships rudder so that when the rudder A is swung by a wave the Controlling rudder is moved so that the currents from the ship will act upon it to return the rudder A to the position it occupied before it was struck by the wave.

Jort althou h Variations may be resorted towithin; the; scope of myinvention and. portions ot the; improvements-may be-used: Without others.

The term waterborne-ship as-used herein,

a is intended to designate a shipnavigated. on.

for free rotary movement; a controlling rudder connected to the ships rudder; and means whereby the controlling rudder may have its position altered to cause the current through which it passes to shift the position of the ships rudder, a predetermined alteration of the position of the controlling rudder causing the ships rudder to reverse its position relative to the ship when a reversal of the direction of travel of the ship frlom ahead to astern and vice versa is elfectcc.

2. The combination with a water-borne ship; of a ships rudder mounted on the ship for free rotary movement; a controlling rudder connected to the ships rudder; and means whereby the controlling rudder may have its position altered to cause the current through which it passes to shift the position of the ships rudder, the arrangement being such that the controlling rudder is in advance of the ships rudder both when going ahead and astern.

3. In a ship, the combination of a main rudder capable of turning loosely through afull circle, and an auxiliary rudder movably connected to said main rudder.

4. In a ship, the combination of a main rudder capable of turning loosely through a full circle, an auxiliary rudder movably connected to said main rudder, and means capable of positively acting exclusively on said auxiliary rudder for turning it either way.

5. In a ship, the combination of a main rudder capable of turning loosely through a full circle, an auxiliary rudder movably connected to said main rudder, and means for turning said auxiliary rudder either way, said means allowing said main rudder to rotate freely.

6. In a ship, the combination of a main rudder adapted to turn loosely through a full circle. an auxiliary rudder disposed in the plane of said main rudder, and means capable of positively acting exclusively on said auxiliary rudder for turning it either way.

7. In combination with a ship, a ships rudder, mounted on the ship for free rotary movement; a controlling rudder connected to the ships rudder and means whereby the controlling rudder may have its position al tered to cause the currents through which it passes to shift the position of the ships rudder, the; arrangement being such that the ma n and; c-outrol i grudders ar :f e o and will turn, through! 180 automatically, when a reversal of? travel of; the-ship froinahead tea-stern nd. vice v rsa sefiee ed.

8., In a ship in combination, a main r-udden and an auxiliary rudder movablyconnected to said main rudder, said main rudder being" capable of; turning of, itself through 180, when the direction of travel of the ship is being reversed.

9. In a ship in combination, a main rudder freely rotatable about its axis and adapted to be reversed by the water current, so as to assume an operative position relatively to the ship, whether going ahead or astern, an auxiliary rudder connected with said main rudder and gearing between the ship and said auxiliary rudder, adapted to set said auxiliary rudder at an angle relatively to said main rudder, while allowing said main rudder to be reversed by the current.

10. The combination with a water-borne ship; of a ships rudder, means for mounting the rudder on the ship to have a free rotary movement, a controlling rudder connected to the ships rudder and having a swinging movement relative to the ships rudder, steering mechanism on the ship, and gearing between the steering mechanism and the controller for swinging the controlling rudder whereby the latter may move the ships rudder for steering the ship.

11. The combination with a water-borne ship, of a ships rudder, means for mounting the ships rudder on the ship to have free rotary movement, arms mounted on the ships rudder, a controlling rudder mounted on said arms, a control shaft mounted in the rudder, and gearing between the control shaft and the controlling rudder whereby the position of the latter may be varied, the ships rudder being freely rotatable independently of said gearing and being controlled solely by the controlling rudder.

12. The combination with a water-borne ship, of a ships rudder, means for mounting the ships rudder on the ship to have free rotary movement, a controlling rudder mounted on the ships rudder and having a swinging movement relative to the ships rudder, a control shaft mounted in the ships rudder, and gearing between the control shaft and the controlling rudder whereby the position of the latter may be varied, the ships rudder being freely rotatableinclependently of said gearing and being controlled solely by the controlling rudder.

13. In a water-borne ship, the combination of amain rudder, an auxiliary rudder movably connected to said main rudder, and means comprising a transmission from a lower to a higher speed for actuating said auxiliary rudder directly.

14. In a Water-borne ship, the combination of a main rudder capable of turning through a full circle, an auxiliary rudder movably connected to said main rudder, and means whereby, on said main rudder executing a constant rotary movement, said auxiliary rudder is caused to execute a constant rotary movement also.

15. In a Water-borne ship the combination of a loosely pivoted main rudder capable of 10 turning through a full circle and an auxiliary rudder, the tWo rudders being so connected that if the main rudder is moved to one side by the Waves the auxiliary rudder is automatically deflected so as to return the 15 main rudder to its former position.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature.

FRANCISCO CONTI. 

